Residents React to Fire Set in Lenox

April 12th, 2013

(Ben Garver / Berkshire Eagle Staff)

LENOX, Mass. (wggb) — A woman remains in critical condition following a fire at an apartment complex in Lenox. Dozens of elderly residents were forced out of their units last night and today we learned that the fire was intentionally set.

For Pat and Tony Borelli, last night’s fire was a frightening ordeal, both of their apartments just feet from the one where the fire was set.

“We left and you could see the smoke coming down the hall in big rolls. It was almost like it was chasing us it was such massive amounts of smoke,” explained Pat.

Neither of them say they are shocked that the fire was intentionally set.

“I really don’t know, it doesn’t surprise me a great deal,” said Pat.

And even more alarming was their reaction to the response from local firefighters whose station is directly across the street.

“I was a fireman for four years and I saw things that could have been done a little better. I think people should have gotten into that building and gotten them out a little quicker, but that’s just my opinion,” said Tony.

The fire displaced 59 residents, most of whom went across the street to Town Hall where the American Red Cross provided hot drinks, food and even socks to the residents that had left their homes without them.

“They’ve been terrific. They were terrific yesterday, all night when there was nobody else taking care of us. They were terrific,” Tony complimented.

Both said the response by the Red Cross was important as they made sure residents had everything they needed.

The Red Cross is helping put some residents up in a hotel again tonight. They are also working with local firefighters who have been retrieving medications from some of the apartments. A local pharmacy is also filling those prescriptions that aren’t able to be recovered.

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